Date: Thu, 5 Aug 2004 11:21:06 -0700 (PDT) From: Shannon Subject: Model Me chapter 16 Disclaimer: Anything mentioned in this story is complete fiction. The sexuality of anyone in the story is not necessarily true, but just written to entertain. If you are underage or if it is illegal to read pornographic material where you live, please leave now. Also, if you are uncomfortable with gay relationships, you should not read any farther. For everyone else, enjoy the show.... After the longest three days of his life Justin didn't think he could get any happier to finally be home, not only because it was safe and secure but also because it was where he belonged. He looked up at the large house he had bought two years ago on his twenty-second birthday. It was still the only place he ever wanted to live in his life, but recently when he had thoughts of growing old in the three-story structure he thought about doing it with Craig. He kissed the man who was standing next to him on the cheek and pulled him closer to him by the arm that was around his waist. "Why don't you guys stay for dinner?" Justin asked kissing him again. "I'm not sure," Craig said glancing back at Brian who was still in the back seat of the black Lincoln they had rented to drive them to and from the airport. "Why not?" "I don't know," he said looking down at Justin's white t-shirt. "If it's because of my mom don't worry about it okay? I'm not going to tell her while you're here I promise." "It's not that," he said running his hand over the man's firm back. "Then what baby?" "I just don't know if I'll be good company." "Of course you will. You guys can just hang out and we'll eat. It'll be good for you." Craig nodded, "Okay I'll go grab Brian." He started walking towards the car. "Hey," Justin said grabbing his hand and pulling him close. "I love you." "I love you too," Craig said smiling and pecking his lips. "I'm going to run in and put my bags down," he said kissing the man's full lips again. "Okay baby," he said watching Justin's ass move in his low cut jeans as he walked up the few stairs that led to the house. Craig walked back over to the car and leaned his arms on the door through the open window. "Do you want to hang out here and have dinner?" "I'm down if you're up for it." "Yeah, it could be fun." "I'll go by your place drop your bags off and then go pick up my car." "You don't have to do that. I should go with you." "No it's cool, go spend some time with Justin I'll be back soon." "Thanks B," Craig said stepping away from the car. He crossed his arms over his chest as he watched the black car drift out of sight. He was pretty sure there was no way for him to surround himself with better people then he already had. He turned and walked into the house closing the front door quietly. "Hey," Justin said turning around from the kitchen counter. He had two little boys, one in each arm, with the bluest eyes and palest blond hair Craig had ever seen. "Everyone this is Craig." Justin's mom was busy working near the stove on something while a very beautiful young girl with long straight dirty blond hair, sat at the kitchen table typing rapidly on a lap top computer. Lynn paused at the stove to smile at the newcomer. "Craig you've met my mom already," Justin said walking towards the man with a deep dimpled child in either arm. "This is Bobby," he said leaning one boy near Craig, "and this is Tucker. Can you guys say hi to Craig?" The two were identical even down to their matching jean overalls. The only way to tell them apart that Craig could see was that Tucker had a baby blue long sleeved shirt under his overalls where Bobby had a red one. "Hi," Tucker said softly. Bobby turned his head and leaned it against Justin's shoulder. "They're a little shy," Justin said kissing Bobby on one rosy chubby cheek. "Oh my God!" the girl at the table screamed. She had finally looked up from her computer and ran quickly over to Craig, long blond hair trailing behind her like a mane. "You're Craig," she said bright blue eyes wide with excitement. "Stacy what's wrong with you?" Lynn asked wiping her hands off on a dishtowel and walking over to them. "Momma he's the hottest model for Abercrombie & Fitch. He's the hottest guy in the world," she said turning her attention back to Craig. "I can't believe you're standing here in my brother's kitchen." "Calm down," Justin said placing the two boys on the floor. "You are so gorgeous," she said ignoring Justin's words. "Can I touch you?" "Anastasia!" Lynn said sternly. Craig smiled down at her trying not to blush anymore then he already was and trying not to laugh in her face. "Its okay," he leaned down and hugged her softly. "Oh my God," she said again when his arms left her small frame. "I'm sorry about that Craig," Lynn said pulling Stacy away from him. "It's okay," he said still smiling. "You must have to put up with that a lot, girl's throwing themselves at you," Lynn said going back to the stove once Stacy was firmly seated at the table although she stared at him longingly from afar. "Not too much. They usually don't recognize me from the catalogs." "How could they not?" Stacy asked eliciting a look from her mother. Craig shrugged and looked to Justin who had been standing at his side silent for quite sometime. Justin smiled at him obviously amused by the situation. "I hope you boys are hungry. Everyone should be here soon." "Everyone?" Justin asked picking Bobby up again when he tugged on his pant leg and reached his chubby little hands up towards him. "I wasn't sure if you would be back today so I invited Lance and JC over for dinner to keep me company." "That's cool. Where's Brian?" he asked Craig, longing to wrap his arms around him or kiss his lips. Whenever they were around each other they were always touching or hugging but they couldn't at that moment and it was killing Justin inside. "He went to go drop off our bags and pick up his car." "He didn't have to do that I would have taken you guys home." "It's cool," he said glancing and smiling at Stacy who continued to stare at him. "I'm going to run my bags upstairs," he said balancing the boy on his hip as he picked the bags in question up off of the kitchen floor. "Will you be okay?" he mouthed silently to Craig. Craig nodded and smiled at him wanting to kiss him worse then when they first met. He glanced at the man leaving the room trying not to look too sad that he was gone and trying not to be too obvious that he was staring at his ass. He smiled at Stacy who kept looking at him over her laptop. "What are you working on?" he asked sitting down next to her. She smiled at him brightly and seemed to be undressing him with her eyes, "Nothing." "Stop staring at the man," Lynn said glancing up at the two. Stacy ignored her, "What is it like being you?" Craig laughed, "Boring." "No way. I bet it's awesome. I've always wanted to model but momma won't let me," she said looking down sadly. "It's no place for a girl her age," Lynn said overhearing the conversation. "Tell me all about it," Stacy said suddenly just as excited as when she recognized Craig. "What's it like being a model?" "Fun most of the time." "I've always wanted to meet you ever since you started working for Abercrombie. You're the sexiest guy I've ever seen." "Stacy," Lynn said staring at her daughter in awe. "You should see my room I have every picture you've ever done all over my walls. You're my favorite." "Wow," he said. For some reason he didn't think of the girl as strange, which he definitely would have thought if it had been anyone but Justin's sister. He felt a soft tug on the hem of his shirt and looked down. "What's a model?" Tucker asked his wide bright blue eyes sparkling under the ceiling lights in the kitchen. "Well it's someone who wears nice clothes and has pictures taken of them." "Momma takes pictures of me and brother," he said smiling brightly. "Then you guys are your mom's models." "Wealy?" "Yep," he said smoothing down the boys hair. "Momma did you hear that? We're models!" he said running to his mom's side. "I heard baby." He ran back over to Craig. "Will you pway wif me?" "We're trying to have an adult conversation right now," Stacy said picking him up and holding him tight on her lap. "No!" he screamed struggling. "No conbersations let's pway!" "What do you want to play?" Craig asked. "Let's pway," he said tapping a chubby finger on his chin as he looked up at the ceiling, "soldiers!" "How do you play that?" "I'll show you," he said finally slipping from his sister's grasp and landing on the floor. He grabbed Craig's hand and pulled him to the living room where there were toys spread out all over the floor. "Here," he said handing Craig a G.I. Joe figurine. "Okay so what do I do?" he asked sitting on the carpet with the boy. "You're on my side over here and we're gonna get attacked but we gotta stay live." "I'm ready," he said throwing a toy gun over the dolls shoulder. "Having fun?" Justin asked walking downstairs with Bobby still in his arms. "Dusty! Do you want to pway?" Tucker asked running over to him with a toy tank in his hand. "Sure squirt," he said sitting next to Craig and placing Bobby in front of him. He laughed at the man as he pretended to dodge a land mine and then dived behind the leg of the coffee table. Bobby was animatedly charging into a makeshift town with one of the camouflaged toy tanks when he jumped up suddenly and screamed, "I win!" "Hey you're cheating that's not how you play soldiers," Justin said grabbing the small boy and tickling him. "You didn't win anything." "Yes I did Dusty," he said through a fit of laughter. Tucker jumped up and ran to his twin brother's aid tackling Justin from behind and trying to tickle him as the doorbell rang. "Hey I have to get the door," he said wrapping his arms around both boys. "Are you two going to be good?" "No!" they both yelled, smiling cheerfully. "Okay Craig's in charge then," he said standing up quickly and walking to the foyer. He heard a fit of laughter as Craig tickled the boys and they jumped on him. He thought about how great it would be if they had their own kids together, that wouldn't be for a long time and they would have to adopt but it was still a nice thought. "Hey," he said looking at the three men standing in front of him. He looked from Lance to JC to Wade not sure why he felt apprehension blowing through the open door along with the cool wind from outside. "Hi," Wade said walking past him. "I didn't think you'd be back," JC said hitting him on the shoulder. "Did everything go okay?" "Yeah it was fine. What's up?" he asked looking at just JC in the doorway. Lance had disappeared into the house without saying a word. "Can I talk to you really quick?" "It looks serious," he said closing and locking the front door. "It isn't really I just wasn't able to get a hold of you when you were out of town." "Okay, let's go in here," Justin said leading the man to the downstairs office to his left. *** Lance wasn't sure why he agreed to go to dinner at Justin's, probably because Lynn had talked him into it. He was so easily persuaded into things by her, mostly because she had been more of a mother to him over the years then his own had been. He splashed cold water on his face as soon as he locked the bathroom door. When JC had told him he would pick him up and they would drive over together he had been almost, well, happy. That didn't last long though. JC showed up with Wade in the passenger's seat looking as smug and annoying as ever. Lance had racked his brain over and over trying to think of an excuse to all of a sudden not be able to leave his house with the two obviously dating men. He knew that JC and Wade had been "involved" at the club but there was a part of him, a big part actually, that hoped it had only been a one time thing, maybe a fluke. But it was the way Wade looked at JC as he drove, a mix of longing and undressing the man with his eyes that Lance knew all to well (after all he had looked at the same man that way billions of times before), he was positive that the two were dating and only waiting for the right time to spill the beans. That was if they would ever say anything. He ran a plush white towel across his face to dry it and stared at himself in the mirror. There was nothing wrong with the way he looked. Sure he didn't have Wade's drop dead gorgeous face and his body wasn't as toned or as tall as the choreographer's but he considered himself to be a cute guy nonetheless. Either way he just had to face the situation head on. He had to go out there and pretend nothing bothered him, pretend that he was perfectly okay with Wade fucking the love of his life. He folded the towel and placed it back on the rack near the sink. That was all he had to do. He figured that after the performance that night he might actually be nominated for an Academy Award. *** "So what's up?" Justin asked sliding the doors to the office closed. "It's about your mom." "Well?" he asked after a long pause. "She called me and started asking a lot of questions about Craig and you," he said leaning against the desk. "I tried to get a hold of you but your cell phone was off and I didn't really want to leave that in a message." "What did she say?" Justin asked slowly praying that his mom hadn't already figured out his secret. "Like that you seemed to act weird around Craig and did I know why. Was there something going on with the two of you that would need to be kept secret, that kind of stuff." "What did you say?" "Well I'm not stupid Jay. I told her that I didn't know anything and that I've only met Craig a few times." "Do you think she's still suspicious?" JC shrugged, "I have no clue." "I was actually going to tell her soon." "Like how soon?" he asked seeing their evening getting a lot more complicated in his mind's eye. "I'm not sure, maybe tomorrow. I guess I should do it as soon as possible, though." "Lynn is a pretty smart woman." Justin nodded, "Apparently so." "Have you told Craig that you want to tell her?" "Of course, he's okay with it as long as it's what I really want to do." "That's good," he said as the doorbell sounded softly through the door. "I'll go get that. Thanks though Jayce," he said leaving the room. If he wasn't going to grow the balls to tell his mom before, he had to that night. The more she was around Craig and him the more questions would float through her brain. They tried to act as "just friends" as possible. But he was sure a few longing looks or waning glances that they couldn't help would alert her immediately. All of a sudden he didn't think the dinner was such a good idea. As he reached the front door Stacy sped past him and grabbed the door handle first. "Beat you," she said smiling brightly up at him. He smiled down at her remembering how when he still lived at home they would always race for the door. They hadn't done that in a long time, though. She opened the door and the smile fell from her face as her jaw dropped open and her huge eyes bulged. "Hi?" Brian said almost thinking he had the wrong house when he saw the young girl who answered. Stacy looked like she was trying to talk, trying to say something that could ultimately be very important but she couldn't get the words out. "Are you okay?" Brian asked looking at her closer. She had gone almost completely pale, her skin blending into the white shirt she was wearing. "You're..." she started swallowing hard. "You're Brian." "Yeah," he said wondering if everyone had been talking about him or something. "Come in," Justin said pushing his sister out of the way with a hard shove to her shoulder. The force seemed to knock her back into reality. She blinked rapidly at the red haired man that had just entered the residence. "I love you," she said quietly. He turned to look at her and laughed lightly, "Thank you. I love you too." "She's a little out of it tonight," Justin said, "brain surgery and all." She kicked him hard in the shin and then smiled brightly at Brian again tilting her head to the side just enough for her thick waist long hair to cascade over her thin shoulder. "I can't believe you're here," she said linking arms with him and leading him through the house away from her cursing brother. "Look who I found," she said happily walking into the kitchen. Everyone had congregated in that area to help set food on the table and they all looked up when she announced Brian. He smiled at everyone liking the attention and the introduction. Not even runway spokes people said you were one of the hottest men in the world and then commented on your cute freckles and your sexy butt. "Stacy!" Lynn said after her daughter had finished her spill about Brian's good looks. "Momma calm down he's gorgeous, just look at him." Everyone in the room had to admit that Brian was a good-looking guy but none of them said anything out loud. Lance however looked at him closely from his place across the kitchen and smiled brightly, almost instinctively flirting with the man. He caught Brian's gaze, which seemed to soak up all that he was and then the man winked at him. Lance wasn't sure what to do but he did know that JC and Wade who were standing just behind him were the farthest people from his mind. "If we're done making the boys feel like pieces of meat maybe we can eat dinner now?" Lynn asked carrying a bowl to the dinning room. Justin finally joined them in the kitchen carrying his two little brothers who had been playing on the living room floor sans Craig. "Hey," he said to the man walking up behind him. Craig smiled at him longing to feel those full lips on top of his, "Hi." "Did you guys have fun playing with Craig?" "Yeah!" Tucker yelled reaching his arms out to him. Craig took him and held him liking the way the small boy felt in his arms. "Let's go eat," Justin said leading Craig and Tucker into the dinning room. "Sit here Craig!" Stacy said excitedly pulling Brian into the seat between her and Lance. Brian smiled at the man, "I haven't seen you around before." "Yeah...I'm Lance," he said feeling slightly uncomfortable in the outfit he had chosen. He had figured that the dinner would be casual o he opted for his everyday jeans and a white hooded sweatshirt. Suddenly he wished he had been wearing something a little more flattering while sitting next to the man that made his stomach do back flips. He felt awkward, ugly, and very unworthy to be anywhere near Brian let alone talking to the man. "Looks like we're ready," Lynn said. "Justin will you say grace?" Justin hadn't been very religious since he moved out of his mom's house and stopped going to church every Sunday but he wasn't opposed to giving thanks for all of the love and fortune he had in his life. Plus he thought it was good for his little brothers and his sister to have faith in something even if he wasn't sure he did anymore. He wondered if Craig felt the same way, they had never talked about religion before. "Sure," he said bowing his head and taking Craig's hand and his mother's. "Thank you Lord for the food that you've placed before us and for the good friends and family that you've surrounded us with," he said squeezing Craig's hand and smiling to himself. "In Jesus name we pray, amen." "Amen," everyone said in unison. They started to pass bowls and platters of food around the table as chatter ensued about random things. "So you guys live in Orlando right?" Stacy asked Brian and Craig. "Yeah," Brian said taking the clear glass bowl filled with mashed potatoes that she handed him. "That's so cool. You guys should come over here more often." "You won't be here," Justin said sipping his red wine. "Shut up," she said glaring at him past Craig. "So anyway..." she said going into a monologue about how much her friends loved them and would want to meet them. "Here you go," Brian said handing Lance the bowl. "Thanks," he said feeling Brian's soft strong hand as he took it. "What are you doing after this?" he asked in almost a whisper. "I'm not sure, why?" he asked surprised at the man's bravado. "Well I thought we could hang out if you wanted," he said pushing his fork through the potatoes on his plate. "That would be great," Lance said a little too eager. Brian looked up at him and smiled, "So what would you want to do?" "I'm not sure," Lance said smiling at him. "I'm sure we can figure something out," he said staring into the man's hazel eyes. His lips parted slightly and Lance wondered if they hadn't been surrounded by all of those people if Brian would have kissed him. He shook himself out of the thought, tore his eyes away from the man, and began to eat. He couldn't let himself go through all of that again, not so soon after JC. Plus, he barely even knew Brian. Sure he was the hottest thing he had seen in a long time. But his forward approach most likely meant that all he was interested in was sex. Lance hadn't gotten laid in a long time but that wasn't all that he was looking for. He wanted to be happy, he wanted to spend his life with someone to share all of the good and the bad times, he wanted to be loved unconditionally. *** Justin pulled Craig close to his body wrapping his arms tightly around the man. "I love you," he said quietly. "I love you too," he said placing his lips gently over Justin's. He ran his hand up to the back of his neck pulling his head closer to prolong the kiss. They had finally been successful in stealing a few minutes alone upstairs while everyone else was busy washing dishes and talking below them. Craig had never been so happy to kiss someone in all of his life. The feeling of Justin's warm soft lips on his was like heaven. Justin looked deep into his eyes when they broke the kiss and ran his hand over Craig's cheek like he always seemed to do. Sometimes it was like he had to touch the man's face to make sure he was real. "I want to tell my mom tonight," he said simply. "Are you sure?" "Yes, very sure, I don't want to keep how I feel about you a secret." "You're sure you don't want to wait to tell them both together?" "I'm not sure; I just want to get everything out in the open." Craig nodded, "If that's what you want then I'm behind you one hundred percent." "Thank you," Justin said kissing him again. He knew that he would need Craig more then ever before. Even if his mom was all right with what he confessed to her he knew his dad would be a totally different story. "Is there anything you want me to do?" Craig asked laying his hand on Justin's broad shoulder and kissing his neck. "Just love me forever," he said running his hands up and down the man's back. "And ever," Craig said kissing his lips again. "I'm really nervous." "I know, it'll be okay." Justin nodded, "We should go back down before someone comes looking for us." "I love you; no matter what happens baby," Craig said kissing his cheek. "I love you too." They walked back downstairs trying not to look like they had been up to anything. "Thanks so much for dinner Lynn," JC said hugging the woman and kissing her cheek. "It was delicious." "Do you boys really have to leave so soon?" she asked holding onto Wade's hand. "Yeah I have an early morning tomorrow," JC said. He figured early morning, late night fucking Wade, pretty much the same thing. "Okay well don't work too hard." "I won't," he said kissing her again. "I guess you have to go too then?" Brian asked Lance. They were standing in a corner of the kitchen as far away from everyone else as they could get. "Yep, that's my ride." "I can take you home if you want. We could hang out or something like we talked about before." Lance thought about it for a moment, "You know I don't think that's such a good idea." He could already see the handwriting on the wall. He and Brian would definitely wind up in bed together if the man drove him home. "Come on. We barely got a chance to talk," he said pouting just enough to make Lance smile. "Alright," he said after a long pause. "Are you ready?" JC asked glancing back at him. "Brian's going to take me home so I can hang out a while longer." "Okay I'll see you later," he said looking from Lance to Brian. There was a flash of jealousy that showed on Lance's face for less then a second as the two men left the room bidding good night to everyone as they went. Brian didn't know him very well but he guessed that wasn't the look of someone who had said good night to just a friend. "I guess we're just one big happy family now huh?" Stacy said wrapping her arm around Brian's waist. "Yeah," he said looking down at her. He had never felt so strange around a sixteen-year-old girl before, except maybe when he was sixteen. Craig laughed from across the room at the look on his best friend's face. He looked almost scared of the small girl clinging to his side. Justin glanced at him smiling at the way Craig's face came alive when he was happy. "So Craig," Lynn said placing the last plate in the dishwasher, "where are you from?" "California," he said still smiling. "What made you move all the way out here?" Craig's smile faded as he remembered moving from Milan to aid Jeremy with one of his companies and his failing health. "My dad," he finally managed to say. Suddenly he needed to sit down. "What did your father do?" she asked sitting next to him at the kitchen table. "Entrepreneur I guess, he owned a lot of companies." "Is one of them in Orlando?" Craig nodded his skin going slightly pale. "Are you inheriting the businesses or do you have siblings who will?" "I'm an only child so I guess I will." "I don't think Craig's really up for this right now momma," Justin said sitting on the other side of him. "I was just trying to get to know him sweets. I'm sorry Craig," she said placing a hand on his forearm. "Its fine," he said smiling weakly at her. "How is your mother doing?" she asked with concern in her voice. "She's dead also," he said looking intently at the top of the table. "I'm sorry. Do you have other family here?" "My uncle lives here." "That's good. What do you boys have planned for tomorrow?" she asked trying to change the subject when the boy in front of her looked as though he would cry at any moment. "I have to meet with Jeremy, I mean, my dad's lawyer," Craig said looking a little better. "What time is that?" "I don't know," he said looking at Brian who was talking quietly with Lance at the other end of the table. "Nine thirty," he said glancing up at them. "You boys should stop by and have breakfast with us." "I don't know if we can," he said glancing at Justin. He wasn't sure when the bomb was dropping but if it was that night or even the morning he didn't really have the courage to be around. "Of course you can it'll be wonderful," she said with a bright smile. "Okay," Craig said figuring that she would have a change of heart after Justin spoke with her about his new found sense of self. He glanced at Stacy who was focusing intensely on him surprised by the fact that the man had human feelings and problems like everyone else. "Then it's settled, be here around eight and I'll have everything ready." Craig looked at Justin wishing that they could be alone for a bit longer before he left. "Alright well we should get going right B?" "Yeah early morning," he said standing. He wasn't sure what was going to happen with Lance but what ever it was he wanted to get into it as quickly as possible. He flashed Stacy a smile and walked over to stand by Craig's side. "Thank you again for dinner," Craig said extending his hand to Lynn for her to shake it. "You're very welcome," she took his hand and pulled him down into a hug that startled him a bit. "We'll see you tomorrow." Lance kissed her on the cheek, "Thanks for dinner." "No problem. Have a good night sweets." Craig smiled as Justin walked them out, Stacy on his heels. "I think she really likes you," Justin said in Craig's ear once they reached the front door. "I hope so." "She does. I'll see you tomorrow." Craig nodded longing to kiss the lips that he stared at. He wasn't really sure what Lynn's reaction would be to everything but he did have to admit that there was a chance that she already had an idea, especially after the conversation with JC which Justin told him about when they had stolen a few moments alone upstairs. He guessed she would take it as well as anyone, after all doesn't a mother always know? *** "Momma?" Justin said softly knocking on the bedroom door. It was cracked revealing a small sliver of light and red bedspread. "Come in," she said matching his tone. He pushed the door open as his heart pounded in his throat. "Can I talk to you for a minute?" "Can it wait until the morning sweets?" she asked rocking a sleeping Bobby back and forth in her arms as she looked down at Tucker who was passed out to her left. "Um..." he hesitated running his hand against the back of his neck, "this is kind of important." "Okay," she said looking up at him expectantly. He paused for a moment still standing in the doorway and moved to the bed sitting silently by his mothers crossed legs. "What is it sweets?" she asked kissing the boy in her arms on the forehead. "Um..." he looked down at Bobby's peaceful face and then back up at his mom. "I'm...I'm...well, the past couple of weeks since I broke up with Brit I've been doing a lot of thinking, a lot of soul searching I guess. And I kind of figured out that I'm...momma I'm-" he said being cut off by a phone ringing somewhere in the room. "Can you get that, my purse is right behind you." "Yeah," Justin said walking to a chair across the room. "It's dad," he said handing her the still ringing phone. "Hello?" she said still whispering to not wake the sleeping children lying on her bed. "Sweets can you put them to bed for me?" she asked Justin after a long pause. He nodded scooping Bobby out of he arms as she left the room. He stood there alone in the large downstairs guest bedroom not really sure what to do. He had been so close to telling her the truth it had frightened him. He threw the small boy over his shoulder and picked up Tucker from the bed carrying them both into the small adjoining room that he had planned to turn into a second closet at some point. He stared down at them, little dots in the king sized bed he had laid them in and then left the room. He triple checked the locks on the front door and made sure the alarm was set once again. He kissed his mom good night on the cheek when he walked by her in the living room. "I promise tomorrow we'll talk okay?" she said covering the cell phone with her hand. Justin just nodded and continued on his course to the staircase. Maybe it was all a sign. Maybe he wasn't supposed to tell her about Craig yet. What was he thinking? How could he ever tell Craig that he loved him and wanted to be with him forever when he couldn't even bring himself to tell his mom that he was in love with a man? It wasn't fair to Craig and it wasn't fair to himself. He wanted to build a life with the man, travel, have kids; all of the normal stuff that straight people took for granted and most gay couples thought was too ordinary for them. He wanted it all, most importantly without having to sneak around. It was within his reach if he just talked to his mom; that was the biggest roadblock he could ever foresee in Craig and his relationship. Either way he had to wait until the morning. He really wished that he could have gotten everything out in the open before he went to bed, there was no way he would be getting any sleep that night. *** After Brian was assured about fifty times by Craig that he would be alright alone in his apartment for the night he dropped the man off first. On the car ride to Lance's place, which was closer then he thought it would have been to his own apartment, Brian was uncharacteristically quite. Sure he had a lot of stuff running through his mind but none of it was really worth saying out loud. "How long have you known Justin and JC?" he finally asked. "I met Justin through our singing coach and then JC a little bit after that." "Oh yeah then you guys started the group right?" "Pretty much." "That's cool. So were you and JC close?" "What do you mean?" Lance asked looking at his shadowy face. "I just sensed a little something when he left," he said glancing at him. "Like what?" "I'm not sure. It didn't look like you wanted him to go though." "I don't know what you're talking about." He had tried his hardest to hide his feelings about what he thought was the worst relationship in history, but apparently he hadn't come off as convincing as he thought he did. "Turn right here," he said focusing his attention back on the street in front of them. "So you two aren't..." "No," he said quickly. Brian was quiet again as Lance gave him direction of where to turn. "I'm sorry if I was prying back there," he said pulling into the driveway. "It's okay," Lance said looking towards his house. He had never told anyone about his feelings towards JC and to his knowledge no one had been aware of them until Brian. "Do you want to come in?" "Sure," he said grateful he hadn't screwed up things before they had even began. They walked silently into the house, Lance leading the way to the living room. "Can I get you something?" he asked still standing as Brian sat with one arm draped over the back of the couch. "No I'm fine," he said smiling up at him. He watched as he sat down beside him and turned towards him. "If you want to know about the whole JC thing I can tell you, but it gets a little complicated," Conner finally said after staring in the man's eyes for quite some time. "Only if you want to tell me." "When I met him I was immediately physically attracted to him, I mean he's gorgeous. At the time all I wanted to do was have a physical relationship I guess but then I got to know him and I...well I..." "You fell in love with him," Brian said not really liking the way the story was going already. "Yeah. We've never been in an actual relationship though. It was more..." "Sexual?" "No," Lance said wishing that had been the case. "I just kind of longed for him from afar. I didn't even know he was gay until recently." "Really?" "Yeah." "So are you going to pursue things with him?" "No he's dating Wade. I don't know why I told you all of this you probably don't even really care but I do have to admit it feels good to finally get it off my chest." "You've never told anyone?" "You're the first and only," he said managing a smile even though he felt extremely silly. "Thank you." "For what?" "For sharing that with me," he said running his hand down the man's arm and placing it over his hand. "Um, you're welcome." "What are you doing tomorrow?" "I have some stuff to do at work in the morning, why?" "I want to take you to lunch." "Even after I told you how stupid I am when it comes to guys?" "I don't think that's stupid," he said leaning in close to him. Brian usually did that when he was interested in someone, he liked being in their personal space. With Lance it wasn't like that though, he was definitely interested in him but he leaned in not for his own form of physical flirting but just to be as close to him as possible. He was different then any man Brian had ever met before. Probably for the simple fact that any other guy he knew would have been on his knees in front of him before they could even have a conversation, not that he ever complained but it got old after a while. "Where did you want to go?" Lance asked glancing down at Brian's hand, which was still placed gently over his. It was strange how comfortable he felt with the simple act. Something he thought would never be easy for him again while trying to get over JC. "Anywhere you want." He looked from Lance's stunning hazel eyes down to his gorgeous pink lips. "There's this new place downtown that I've been wanting to try." "We'll go there then," he said softly as he leaned his parted lips closer to Lance's mouth. Lance leaned away from him, "I'm sorry." "No," Brian said giving the man the space he obviously wanted. "I shouldn't have done that." "It's not your fault," he said holding the man's hand again. "I do like you. It's just a little too soon" Brian nodded. He had unquestionably never been with a man like the one sitting in front of him. Something about those innocent eyes and shy demeanor reeled him in like he never thought they could. *** The sun was just coming up over the horizon when Lance stepped out of the shower. He had two early meetings at his company that he did not intend to be late for, although he overslept about fifteen minutes. Besides the meetings though, he did have to admit that he was trying to get everything squared away before his date with Brian. So far to him Brian and JC didn't even compare, they were just such different people. If he had to pick one over the other he wasn't sure who it would be which surprised him endlessly. How could someone he barely even knew match up to the man he was still supposedly full heartedly in love with? He guessed he was falling out of love with JC even quicker then he thought. He tried to dress as nicely and quickly as he could in an all black Valentino suit with matching tie. He told himself it was just for the meetings, which could determine which singer the company signed next, but he knew in his heart that he wanted to look as good as possible for Brian. The man was just so put together, so stylish, that Lance didn't think he could possibly keep up. He had money, he had a lot of it actually, but he had never been a clotheshorse kind of guy before. Why should he change? He liked things that looked nice and had a few pieces that he was quite proud of but overall he was happier in jeans and a t-shirt, more often then not a little worn in. No matter what his style was he was sure that Brian would be happy with his choice for that day. After all the man had flirted with him endlessly when he looked like shit the day before. *** "You really don't have to come," Craig said. His mouth may have been saying stay home but his eyes were pleading with the man to tag along. "Nope I'm going," Justin said slipping a white t-shirt over his muscular frame. Craig couldn't believe how his mouth watered at the sight of the man's toned body. He hadn't had Justin in his mouth or hands for days and it was really taking a toll on him. He shook the images that flooded his brain away thinking of the will reading they were about to attend. "You're sure?" he asked finally, sitting on the bed. "Yes sweetie I want to be there," Justin said kneeling in front of the man. "I love you okay?" Craig nodded as Justin's hand moved over his smooth face, "I love you too." "I'm really sorry about my mom." "Will you stop apologizing already?" "I promise I'll tell her today." "Tell her whenever you want baby," he said kissing his lips. "It's your choice." "I wanted to tell her last night but then my dad called and-" "I know," Craig interrupted. "Whenever you feel is right." Justin nodded leaning into the man's body. There was a knock at the door that brought them both back to reality. Justin stood pulling on a striped collard shirt, "Yeah?" "Brian's still waiting for you boys patiently downstairs," Lynn said poking her head in the room. "I'm afraid Stacy's going to molest him or something." "We'll be down in a minute," Justin said laughing. She smiled and closed the door. As she walked back down the hallway she tried to shrug off the weird feeling that crawled over her whenever she saw Craig and Justin together. When Tucker had spilt syrup all over Justin's shirt she figured it was normal that Craig went with him when he changed. Maybe they had to talk about something they didn't want the whole family overhearing. But what would that be? Lynn told herself that if JC or one of the other guys had been there instead they would have gone in Craig's place. She had gotten used to the boys not really being shy when it came to dressing in front of each other over the years, even when Lance came out, but with Craig it was different. It wasn't one of her boys it was someone she had barely known existed a few days ago, someone Justin scarcely knew. It was just extremely odd for Justin to be so at ease around someone he had just met especially after what happened last year. He hadn't been able to trust anyone after that and now he was opening not only his home but also his bedroom to Craig. It just didn't add up in her book. As she walked down the stairs Brian looked at her hopefully from the living room floor where he was being made to play trucks with Tucker and Bobby. "They'll be down in a minute," she said quietly walking into the kitchen. Brian hadn't known her for any major period of time but she always seemed to have a smile on her face, the kind people got when they were just happy to be alive. That time however the smile had fallen from her face and was replaced by a neutral look about two wrinkles short of a frown. He decided that she must have walked in on something she shouldn't have upstairs. "Ready?" Justin asked standing over him all of a sudden. "Uh, yeah," he said coming out of his trance. "Bye guys," he told the two little boys in front of him. "Bye," Tucker said not even glancing up from his toys. "Are you leaving?" Stacy asked standing from the floor when he did. "Yeah we're going to be late as it is." "Okay well it was nice seeing you again. Come back okay?" "Sure," Brian said smiling. Once they were finally in the car, having successfully detached Stacy from Brian's arm, they started toward the lawyer's office. "So?" Brian asked when neither of the two men in the backseat spoke. "What?" Craig asked looking at him through the rearview mirror. "Did Lynn walk in on you guys or something?" "What?" Justin asked shocked by the question. "No, why?" "She looked a little out of it when she was coming back down." "I don't know why," Justin said looking at Craig. "Did she seem weird when she talked to us?" "Not at all." "I could be wrong," Brian said regretting having brought up the observation. When they pulled into the lawyer's parking lot there were two cars parked in the many spaces available. Mr. Scheer had opened the office up on a Saturday just so they could get the reading over with as soon as possible. Obviously Jeremy had been one of his most affluent clients. Brian parked near a small silver Porsche and they entered the building, Justin holding firm to Craig's hand. "Hello," a woman said wearing a nicely tailored black blazer and matching skirt. "You must be Mr. Scheer's nine thirty." "Yes," Brian said smiling down at her. She must have only been about five foot two, and that was on a good day. "This way please," she said sauntering off down a hallway. She stopped just short of a large conference room. "He'll be with you shortly. Can I get you anything?" "I think we're good," Brian said glancing at the men to his right. They entered the room alone taking three seats next to each other at the long mahogany table facing the door. The room was eerily quite until Mr. Scheer entered a few minutes later. He was in his late forties, black hair graying at the temples, but he had that kind of face where you knew he used to be drop dead gorgeous before Father Time and gravity caught up with him. "Hello Mr. Walsh it's nice to see you again," he said reaching a hand to Craig across the table. "You too. This is Brian and Justin," he said pointing to each. "Nice to meet you," he said shaking each man's hand. "Well let's get down to business. First I'd like to say that it was a pleasure working for your father and I hope you will consider staying with our firm." Craig smiled politely urging the older man to hurry up. "Of course you know Mr. Walsh had no living blood relatives other then yourself but he did designate a lot of his wealth to go to different places. His personal net worth, subtracting his businesses of course, totals at," he double checked the figure in front of him, his wire frame glasses low on the bridge of his nose, "a little over nine hundred million dollars." Justin's eyes must have bulged and his jaw must have dropped like a cartoon character because Mr. Scheer's eyes fell on him instead of Craig who seemed uncomfortably calm with the large sum of money mentioned. "He designated ten million to be donated to the AIDS research foundation and twenty million to go to a Mr. Giuseppe Leonardo with this letter," he said passing the crisp envelope across the dark wood table. Craig didn't touch the envelope. He stared down at it almost like he didn't understand what it was. "Did you have a question?" Mr. Scheer asked glancing up from his paperwork. "No please go on," Craig said looking the man in the eyes. "Next is his property, all of which he left to you. The condo in New York, the estate in Orlando, L.A., Sacramento, Aspen, Venice, Milan, Paris-" Craig cut him off with a hand gesture, "You don't have to list them all." "Okay, along with the estates everything there within is yours including but not limited to cars, paintings and all other artifacts, horses, boats, and your mother's jewelry collection," he said glancing up at Craig. He just nodded wishing the man would press on. He didn't need the gory details; he just wanted to get the entire ordeal over with. "On to his businesses this he wanted me to read word for word: To Brian, who was always like a son to me even when I was the worst father possible to my own son, I leave my entire modeling and casting agency in New York, totaling fifteen billion dollars. You always had a good eye for new stars; I hope you continue to use it. I want you to know that you made the last few months of my life that much more tolerable, you're a terrific man and deserve accordingly. Do not settle. To Craig, my one and only son, there is no amount of wealth that I could give you to make up for not being there for so many long years. It may not mean much to you now, but I'm sorry. I never knew how to be a father, that is until you taught me how in the last year or so. I love you so much and will always be watching over you, through the good times and the bad. I know that when you have a little boy you will be one hundred times the father to him that I was to you. I know I wasn't there I know I wasn't available to you when you probably needed me the most but you were never out of my mind. I never forgot I had a son that I was so very proud of. He wants me to give you this," Mr. Scheer said sliding a small crumpled photograph across the table. It had been folded everyway possible, causing deep creases in the faded color but Craig knew what it was. He ran his hand over it smoothing it out and looked at the newborn baby that stared back at him, bright green eyes extremely wide and vibrant for his age, thick black hair matted to his tan forehead. He ran his finger over the small chubby face and the balled up wrinkled hands, his hands. "I can't believe he had this," Craig said a single tear running down his cheek slowly. Mr. Scheer continued: "I kept this photo with me everyday from the morning you were born to the time I died. I should have told you about it, I'm not sure why I didn't, but that's the proof I always loved you, I always thought about you, I always wanted to be there. I always will. I love you Craig, you're the best son a man could ever ask for. Please don't ever change. But I know you won't. That's why I'm leaving you my most profitable company Abercrombie & Fitch and everything that goes along with it, I know you'll be able to carry on your mother's name better then I ever could have. Please keep it in the family; she would have wanted it that way. As for the rest of my business ventures do with them what you like, they're all yours now. I'm definitely the wrong person to give you any advice but I will anyway. Do what you love Craig. Always do what you love and make time for those that you love and you will always be happy and fulfilled. I love you." "I'm sorry," Craig said letting his hands slip over his face as he cried into them. Both Brian and Justin ran hands over his back to calm him and whispered encouraging words into his ears. When he was composed enough to continue Mr. Scheer slid the handwritten note he had just read in front of Craig. "From everything that Mr. Walsh had written and signed both of you now own and operate the companies earlier stated. Are there any specifics that you'd like me to go over?" "He literally gave me the Walsh Modeling and Talent Agency?" Brian asked still amazed. Sure he had been there for Craig and Jeremy through a lot of shit but giving a fifteen billion dollar company to a twenty four year old just didn't seem right. "Yes," Mr. Scheer said double-checking his papers. "It operates out of New York City and has a seven member board including yourself." "Okay," he said glancing at Craig who just smiled at him. "You can do it B," he said touching his hand. "I would recommend to you Mr. Walsh that you concentrate on the more profitable business, Abercrombie & Fitch, and check in on the other's from time to time as your father did." Craig nodded knowing that the man had the best intentions for the advice he was giving but honestly he wasn't sure he would even keep the others. "Was there anything else?" "No that's everything," he said standing. "Please call me if you ever need anything." Craig shook his hand and nodded, "Thank you." As they walked back tot the car Justin was still astounded by his discoveries at the meeting. He had figured Jeremy had money just because of the huge house he had picked Craig up at but there was a difference between being well off and filthy freakin' rich. He had no clue that Jeremy owned Abercrombie & Fitch, no clue whatsoever. Now Craig owned it along with more houses then he could ever possibly spend any length of time in and over eight hundred and fifty million dollars. Justin had a lot of expensive habits, clothes, cars, etc. but there was no way in his wildest dreams that he could ever spend that much money. He guessed that Craig would be set for life. But where would that put their relationship? Justin didn't know much about the fashion industry but he did know that Orlando was no place for the head quarters of a multi million dollar-clothing conglomeration. To be continued... **Hey everyone, hope you liked the new chapter. Sorry it took so long to get it out to you. A little note to all my avid readers and Nsync/ Justin Timberlake fans, I know that Justin doesn't have twin little brothers and I'm pretty sure he doesn't have a sister named Stacy either. That was just me taking creative licensing with the story. Email me at Swimfan_777@yahoo.com with any other comments and/or criticisms, all are appreciated.**